New furniture store coming to Hampton Roads market

New York-based home furnishings retailer West Elm is making its first foray into the Hampton Roads Market. Divaris Real Estate Inc. said Friday that West Elm has signed a lease for 10,000 square feet at The Town Center of Virginia Beach.

Its store will be located on Main Street on the first floor of the newly constructed 4505 Main Street Tower and next to a recently announced Anthropologie store.

Since opening for business in 2002 in Brooklyn, West Elm collaborated with independent artists and craft communities to create affordable statement pieces and seasonal collections. The company offers furniture, bedding, bathroom accessories, rugs, curtains, lighting, decorative accessories, dinnerware, kitchen essentials and gifts.

West Elm’s grand opening at the town center is expected in 2015.
“It’s a perfect complement to our growing and exciting retail tenant mix,” Gerald Divaris, chairman and CEO of Divaris, said in a statement.

West Elm is the sixth new tenant to announce a location in the fifth phase at the center. Other new retailers that have joined the mixed-use development include Anthropologie, Free People, a women’s clothing store; Lululemon Athletica, Francesca’s and Twist Martini, a restaurant and martini bar.

In the West Elm deal, Divaris and Sezin Cortinas handled lease negotiations on behalf of the landlord, Armada Hoffler Properties Inc. in Virginia Beach. Divaris Real Estate leases the town center, and it is managed by Divaris Property Management Corp.